He received his Commission following his Graduation from Gettysburg College, in Pennsylvania and completion of the Air Force Training Program.

He was named to the All County Basketball team in 1962. He was the lead scorer on this team and 12th highest in the county.

A biology major in college, his mother said he planned to teach "but when he had a taste of flying", she continued he thought he might like to be a commerical pilot". Lt. Richardson received his pilot training in Laughlin AFB in Texas. He had been assigned at Tan Son Nhut AFB in Vietnam iwith the 9th Special Operations Squadron, n a psychological air unit. The Light plane he flew was equipped with a loudspeaker which was used to urge Viet Cong and North Vietmanese troops to defect.